King of the Mark
Katla and Boromir were running. They had been running for quite some time. They knew they would never be able to catch up with Aragorn and the others. Their three companions had too much of a head start so Boromir had suggested heading to Edoras, the capital of Rohan, instead. Since Katla didn't have a better idea, she'd agreed to it.
Boromir was deep in thought as he followed Katla. He was slowly coming to terms with the fact that she truly was a warrior in her own right. "What were you doing before you ended up in Moria?" he asked after a while. She had spoken of her homeland, but she hadn't mentioned her own role in it.
Katla looked back over her shoulder. "We were trying to fight Miraak. He was trying to enslave the people who lived on an Island just off the coast of Skyrim where I lived," she said. "He was a bit tricky to deal with. Rhavaniel and Ra'shall were trying to take care of him." She explained what had happened and why she had not personally been fighting.
"So Daedric Princes are some kind of demi-gods?" Boromir asked.
Katla tilted her head from side to side thinking about it. "Not quite," she said. "Technically they are beings from another world. If we find Rhavaniel you can ask her how it really works. She knows more about them than I do."
"Did they manage to defeat him?" Boromir asked.
"I don't know," Katla answered.
"But you believe they are still alive?"
"I do, it takes more to kill them than him," Katla said. "I'm confident that they are still alive. They may not be here, but I'm certain they are alive."
"Why were you the ones fighting in the first place?" Boromir asked. "Weren't there people on the island who could have done it themselves?"
"Probably not," Katla said. "Rhavaniel went there because Miraak sent people out to kill me. That's why we were fighting. Miraak saw me as a threat." She sighed. "We joined her when she sent for us. She needed our help." She smiled at him. "Rhavaniel is a Mage. The Archmage in fact. She runs one of the seats of learning for magic users in Tamriel. She is more powerful than most would even be capable of comprehending."
"She would help with the war?" Boromir asked.
"If we can find her," Katla said. "Both Ra'shall and Rhavaniel will join and aid me. I want to help you so they would too."
"You're the leader?" Boromir asked.
"Yes and no," Katla said. "We all work together. I don't tell them what to do, but I have a better moral compass than they do so they generally will follow my lead when it comes to certain decisions. You see, Rhavaniel doesn't care much about others, and Ra'shall is a thief and a murderer."
Boromir gave her a strange look. "But you spend time with him?" he asked. He couldn't say much about the elf since being selfish was a common enough thing, and he had suffered from that himself quite a lot. A thief and murderer wasn't what he'd call a reliable friend, however.
"I have known Ra'shall for almost ten years," Katla said. "He has his flaws, but he isn't a bad person. We don't really live in the same kind of environment you do. Sure there are a lot of things going on here now with orcs attacking an so on, but normally you wouldn't have this many problems, right? Tamriel is a bit wilder than that. You have to pick your friends carefully and hope they don't betray you. Sure you can join a group of people with high morals. That doesn't mean you won't find corruption though. I know I can trust Ra'shall."
Boromir nodded slowly. Her conviction was clear. For now, he would trust her judgment. He didn't have any reason to doubt her. Though he would be keeping an eye on this Ra'shall character if he ever appeared in Gondor. They did not need someone like him in any city.
It was early a few mornings later when Katla stopped Boromir. She turned around at the sound of horses approaching them. "I believe that we will have some company when we enter Edoras," Katla said. "That looks like Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli… and Gandalf I believe."
"He is alive?" Boromir exclaimed surprised.
"It would seem that way," Katla said. "Maybe he's a little harder to kill than we thought." She waved to them, and the riders turned their way. "Greetings friends," she said once the riders reached them. "I'm glad to see you once more." She looked more closely at them. "Did you not find the Hobbits?" she asked.
"Not as such," Aragorn said. "Gandalf, however, promises that they are safe. The orcs are dead. Rohirrim killed them."
"And you are still with us," Katla said speaking to Gandalf. "I'm glad to see that. It would seem wizards are maybe not all that easy to kill."
Gandalf bowed his head. "I'm glad you decided to continue travelling with the company," he said. "We do not have time for further pleasantries, however. There is danger looming on the horizon and it aims at destroying Rohan and its people."
"We should go on then," Katla said.
"Yes," Gandalf said. "We need to warn the Lord of these lands. Hopefully, he will listen to me."
"The Rohirrim are a proud people," Boromir told Katla as they continued forward. "I would suggest that you cover your face for now. They won't disturb a warrior too much, but a woman in armour might upset them."
Katla nodded in understanding before reaching back and grabbing her helmet. She put it on so no one else would know she was a woman. As they came closer to the city they passed sixteen grave mounds. Seven on the left and nine on the right. She guessed it marked a shift in the rule of the land. The breaking of a straight line. She had seen similar things before. On the graves grew a small white flower. Evermind or Simbelmynë Gandalf called them.
Not long after that, they reached the gates. By the gates sat several men dressed in shining chainmail. They moved swiftly as the company approached and barred their path with long spears. Katla raised an eyebrow. She had travelled many places, but it wasn't often she was met with hostility the first thing that happened. Not even Orsimer treated her that way.
One man spoke to them. He spoke in a melodic tongue that Katla did not understand. Gandalf did not seem to have any problems understanding them, however. He spoke to them at length his tone harsh at times. Aragorn and Boromir also spoke up and the man walked back into the city. Boromir informed Katla that the man had gone to ask the King if he could let them enter. "He wasn't too willing until I let him know who I was. Rohan is our ally. I am the eldest son of the leader of Gondor. They don't really want to deny me entry," he said.
The guard eventually returned and let them in. They walked behind him through the city up toward the golden hall of Meduseld. People watched them as they passed. Katla could see the fear in their eyes. They reached the stairs leading up to the great hall and their guide left them. They continued up the stairs. At the top, they were greeted by the guards that stood there. One walked forward and he spoke finally in the Common Tongue. "I am the Doorward of Théoden," he said. "Háma is my name. Here I must ask you to lay aside your weapons before you enter."
Legolas handed his bow and quiver over without any problems. He did, however, tell the man that took them from him that the bow was a gift from the Lady of the Woods which had the man placing the bow and quiver down against the wall quickly as if they had burnt him. Katla didn't give anyone her weapons instead she placed her backpack with her weapons down against the wall. Boromir had followed her lead and placed his sword and shield down next to her pack.
Katla noticed that Aragorn hesitated. She walked up to him. "Place it aside," she said in elvish. "I understand that the blade means a lot to you, but we have to enter this hall. Refusing to place it aside won't help us at all. Place it by my bag. It will be safe there."
Aragorn sighed. She was right. He did not want to place Andúril down since it was the sword that had vanquished Sauron, the Dark Lord, last time he had reigned. He did, however, realise that it wasn't wise to hold them up because of him. He walked forward and placed his sword down next to Katla's bag. Then Gimli placed his axe down as well, and Gandalf handed them his sword.
The guards asked for Gandalf's staff as well, but the old man managed to talk them out of it.
Katla watched them wondering if a wizard's staff was important to them. Staffs were only tools where she was from after all.
They entered together, though, Katla kept to the shadows as much as she could. She hoped no one would ask her to remove her helmet. She didn't know how these grim looking men would react to her. She listened with one ear as Aragorn spoke of a king of old, but she didn't really care. In a throne at the end of the hall, that now reminded Katla much of Dragonsreach in Whiterun, sat an old man. His white beard and hair had grown so long it was a miracle he could see. Katla was sure he had been a mighty warrior in his day, but age had clearly caught up with him.
At first, there was silence. The old man did not move as they reached him. Then Gandalf moved forward. "Hail, Théoden son of Thengel! I have returned," he said. "For behold, the storm comes, and now all friends should gather together, or they shall be destroyed one by one."
The King's response was less than friendly, and Katla had to take Boromir's arm to stop him from rushing forward. "Let Gandalf deal with this for now," she whispered. "We'll step in if it goes out of hand."
Boromir nodded his head slowly. "Something is wrong," he whispered back.
"There is some kind of spell at work," Katla said. She wasn't sure it was magic. Boromir was right, though, something was wrong. Her eyes landed on a skinny man that sat by the king's feet. He felt wrong to her. The man rose and spoke against Gandalf. He accused the wizard of being an ill omen and a bringer of bad times.
Gandalf responded in a much calmer tone. He pointed out that there were many ways in which one could come with bad times. One could be the bringer of them or one could come when they arrived to stop them.
"That is true," the slimy man said. "But there is a third kind: pickers of bones, meddlers in other men's sorrows, carrion fowl that grow fat on war. What aid have you ever brought, Stormcrow?" He then spoke of the horse that Gandalf had ridden to the city.
Katla yawned. Sure the horse was magnificent, but it was just a horse. Did they have to be so upset over a horse? She didn't understand them. What she did understand was that the slimy man before them was a bootlicker. She despised bootlickers.
"Do you bring men?" the man asked Gandalf. "Do you bring horses, swords, spears? That I call aid."
Katla was tired of this man. She moved forward. "What need do you have of swords or spears?" she asked as she removed her helmet. "You have no men who can use them. They have all been turned into useless knaves." She turned to the King. "Show me that the men of Rohan can still stand upon their own two feet my Lord. Don't listen to this serpent. All he does is bring you bad advice."
At first, Gandalf had wanted to stop her, but he noticed the power that lay in her words. How come he had not noticed before? She was not trying to control, though. Instead, she was like a breath of fresh air. She walked forward and kneeled down by the King's side. "We cannot help your people unless you are willing to fight for them, my Lord. I could make a hundred swords and a hundred spears and hundreds upon hundreds of arrows, but that will not save your people unless you can stand strong and lead them," she told him.
Behind her, Gandalf cast his grey cloak aside to show that he was dressed in the purest white. He offered his aid once more. "Not all is dark," he said as Katla rose. "Take courage, Lord of the Mark; for better help, you will not find. I have no counsel to give to those that despair. Yet, counsel, I could give you, but my words are not for all ears. Will you hear them?"
Théoden rose slowly and Katla lent him an arm. She wasn't the only one though. Another woman came forward. She had a worried look in her eyes. They helped him follow Gandalf back to the doors so he could step outside. Katla looked up at the sky. It was heavy with clouds. "Lok Vah Koor," she said softly, and the clouds above slowly cleared to reveal the sun. The light spread out over the land showing the King the truth. Villages had been raided. Grassland had been burned. Gandalf asked the ladies to return to the hall. He wanted to speak to the King alone.
Katla walked back into the hall and found Boromir. "Hopefully that will work out," she said as she reached him.
He gave her an amused look. "I thought we were supposed to stay back," he said.
"He was starting to annoy me," Katla said as she cast an eye at the slimy man.
"Grima Wormtongue," Boromir said. "He worries me. I... " He shook his head. There was a look in Grima's eyes that reminded him of his father. He wasn't willing to let anyone know that though. His eyes fell upon lady Éowyn. Her golden hair fell around her hunted face. He had found her beautiful once. She was still a very pretty woman, but she seemed to have grown cold and distant. Then Éowyn turned their way and her eyes landed on Katla. The frosty grey orbs widened as she realised the person beside him was a woman. If Boromir remembered correctly, Éowyn had always wanted to be a warrior. He wondered how she was going to react to Katla. "Lady Éowyn," he said with a small bow.
"Boromir," Éowyn said curtseying. "Who is your friend?" she asked.
Boromir shifted. "This is Lady Katla," he said introducing the tall brunette. "Katla this is Lady Éowyn the sister-daughter of King Théoden."
"Your Highness," Katla said with a bow.
"You travel together?" Éowyn asked.
"Yes," Boromir answered. "Katla joined us not long before we entered the enchanted woods of Lothlórien. She has been of great help to the company. I would not be here today if she had not saved me." He wasn't entirely certain what she would want from Katla.
"You are a warrior?" Éowyn asked the brunette.
"I am, yes," Katla said.
"That is unusual," Éowyn said. "Women are seldom allowed to fight."
"Not where I am from," Katla said. "Woman, man, it doesn't matter there. All you need is skill enough to survive." She noticed how Boromir flinching slightly at her words. She figured that he didn't think it was a good idea to encourage the lady's ideas of fighting.
"I wish it was that simple here," Éowyn said. "But…" She was cut off as Háma, the guard outside the hall, walked by a sword in his hands and Grima followed.
"Maybe we should see what is going on," Katla said.
"Sounds like a good idea," Boromir said. Éowyn followed the other two outside still concerned for her uncle.
King Théoden was standing tall now. Several years seemed to have fallen off his shoulders. He invited the company to enjoy a quick meal with him. They would be leaving as soon as possible. They were going to war.
Grima had tried to convince the King that he shouldn't go, but Théoden's mind was set. Then Grima tried to get the King to give him the control of the capital. Théoden didn't let him get his way, however. Instead, he told the man that he had two choices: either he could ride with Théoden or he could leave. He chose to leave proving that he was a traitor. The king sent a man after him to make sure no one was harmed. He had already ordered for his men to be rousted. He was riding out that day.
Katla sat down with Boromir who had quickly shooed away the men who tried to get her to leave. Katla had barely noticed what they tried to do and Boromir prefered it that way. They ate quickly but everyone ate their fill before the company were taken to the king's armoury.
"I take it you don't want anything," Boromir said to Katla as he looked over the armour and weapons. He wasn't going to take another sword, but he was considering another shield. He could use a bigger one if they were going to fight on foot.
"That's a good one," Katla commented once he had picked a shield. She reached out and touched the shield. It was sturdy and would protect him well.
"You can't seriously be saying that a woman is going to join us in battle," a soldier said hauntingly.
Katla turned to him. "I'll be fighting," she said simply. She didn't care enough say anything else to him. She gave Boromir a look and they headed out of the armoury. They walked outside to join the others.
Théoden was troubled. He needed to leave someone in charge of his lands as he rode out with the army. It was Háma who came with the final suggestion. He suggested that Éowyn should be the one to lead the people while they were gone as she was of the royal house.
It was clear to Katla from the King's actions that he did not really expect Éowyn to fight, but she was going to have to do it if they failed. Katla headed out of the city with the others. They gave her a horse. She sighed. She knew perfectly well how to ride, but she didn't really like it. It was harder to get into battle from horseback. Her sword was way too big to use while mounted. She rode up next to Boromir. "What do we do now?" she asked.
"Let's just stay back," Boromir said. He was interested in talking to her and didn't feel like being interrupted. They hadn't gotten far before he started asking her about her past once more. She had no problems answering and was soon telling him the story of the Dragonborn.
"Wait," Boromir said after a while. He had a pained expression on his face. "You can breathe dragon fire?"
"Yeah," Katla said.
Boromir sighed. She could possibly have destroyed the ring. They had said that it was possible a dragon could do it back at the council that had picked the members of the company. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell her though. He wasn't sure how she would react. As he continued listening to her something occurred to him. "Why didn't you just take power?" he asked. She obviously could have. She was powerful even if only half the things she had told him were true.
"I don't want that kind of power. I could technically have become Empress of the Tamriel Empire since I am the only living Dragonborn and the throne can only be held by someone who has dragon blood in their veins. I don't want that kind of power though. I like being free to do whatever I want to do."
Boromir fell quiet for a while, thinking her words over. She truly had a different way of looking at things. He felt like he had been lacking in his life. What had he missed because he was the son of a leader? Then again she had lived in a place both similar and different from Middle-earth. One thing he did know, though. He knew Katla would use her powers in battle if she now had them. Then again maybe she already had. Back in Moria a cave troll had turned around in fear and trampled his allies. Could she have done that? No one else had. He guessed he would have to wait and see.
"You wouldn't happen to know where we're going?" Katla asked after a while.
"As far as I know we're marching on Isengard," Boromir said.
"I see," Katla said.
Slowly a heaviness descended on the army. Katla noticed it affecting the men around her. She chose to do nothing yet though. She didn't want to act prematurely.
The next day rose darker than the last. No one spoke much. The evening came with dark clouds. One of the king's men appeared and warned them. The Isen was dangerous. An army was coming. Katla rode up next to Gandalf. She used her Aura Whisper shout to see what was coming. "That is a lot of enemies," she said.
"Yes," Gandalf said. He turned to the king and implored him to ride to Helm's Deep as fast as he could. He was leaving them. He had his own mission to take care of. He did not dally. Instead, he took off swiftly after telling them to expect him by Helm's Gate.
Katla turned her horse. "I believe we should do as he said. With walls between us and them, we can still defeat them," she said. She looked at the men and raised her voice. "Men of the Mark," she called. "Do not let despair take your hearts. Let's make haste to Helm's Deep. We can do this." She did not remove the heaviness they had been feeling the past two days, but she lifted it a little. They rode fast after that. Darkness was falling as they reached the big fortress. It was part of the mountain with thick walls in half circles. They passed through a heavy wooden gate on their way in. The men of the mark had fought a few enemies on their way, but Katla had not joined them since that would have slowed her down. She got off the horse and headed straight to the outer wall. She looked out over the vale and dikes before the walls. An army was gathering out there. It didn't take long for Gimli and Legolas to join her. The Dwarf was happy they were standing on solid stone. Though, Legolas didn't seem too comfortable about it.
Katla shook her head. "I'm getting some sleep. It isn't worth being tired when they decide to attack. We'll need our strength," she said before leaving the wall. She headed to the keep and just lay down to rest. She didn't need that much sleep, but she was not fighting until she had gotten a bit of rest.
She woke as the horde outside the walls started moving towards them. She didn't head straight for the wall though. Instead, she headed towards what served as the armoury in the Hornburg which made up the main building of the Deep. She helped the young men that had gathered there dress in armour. Then she looked at them. "Who among you can fire a bow?" she asked. Most of the younglings just looked at her uncomfortably. She shook her head. "It isn't all that complicated," she said. She fixed up bows for them. They weren't perfect. She didn't have time for that. Then she showed them how to do it and had them practice for a bit. "Don't worry if your aim is a little off. There are plenty of targets out there you'll hit something," she told them. She had already decided to do her best in keeping them alive through the battle. They were the future.
Once she felt they were ready she led them out on the wall. The youngest boys were tasked with handing the older boys arrows since that would let them shoot faster. Katla, for once, was only carrying what she needed on her body. The white phial hung by her belt. Her quiver was on her hip, and her sword was secured on her back.
The enemy army spread out before the walls of Helm's Deep like a sea of black beetles. Katla wasn't going to use her dragon bone arrows unless she really needed to. It would be too hard for her to find them again. She placed an arrow on her string and aimed. "Aim," she told the boys. "And fire," she said as she fired. One by one, orcs and men fell before their arrows. Katla had spent her time as the boy's practised making more arrows for them. There hadn't been much to work with, but she had made due with what she had. "Run to the blond elf with these arrows," she told one of the boys as she pointed him in the right direction. "Then come straight back here." She handed him a quiver. "Get closer to the wall!" she screamed as big stones started raining from the sky. She didn't hide though. She continued firing arrows even as rocks rained down all around her.
"Lady Katla!" one of the boy's screamed suddenly.
Katla lifted her gaze and turned her head following the direction the boy was pointing. The kid she had sent off earlier was on his way back. His body was dark from the shadow of a big boulder. "Wuld Nah Kest," she shouted throwing herself forward. Then she turned towards the rock. "Fus Ro Dah," she shouted throwing the rock back through the air. She didn't stop though. Quickly, she made it back to the other boys just as several orcs made their way up the walls. She drew her massive sword and cut them down. She could feel how the men around them were tiring. They were losing hope. She took a deep breath. "Mid Vur Shaan," she shouted inspiring the men around her. Bent backs straightened and tired eyes became more alert. It wouldn't hold forever, but it would keep them fighting. As the young ones started losing their energy again, she sent them back to the hold. She didn't want them harmed. She made her way to Aragorn and Éomer. An explosion was heard behind her. She turned and pulled her sword. Aragorn ran up behind her following her as they headed to where the wall had broken. Thankfully the Deep was more than one wall. They did their best to bring people back while fighting the orcs off. "Get everyone behind cover!" Katla shouted to Aragorn. "They aren't going to want to be out here in a moment. Make ready for an assault, but do not venture out until Legolas tells you to." She defended him as she made his way back to the Hornburg.
The last thing Aragorn heard was a chant of clear words in a language he did not understand.
"She is bringing down the fury of the skies on them," Legolas breathed before deafening clashes of thunder rang through the Deep. They made their way back to the hall where Théoden stayed.
"What is going on?" one of the men asked.
"It's Katla," Aragorn said. "I don't know how she is doing it, but she is bringing down bolts of lightning on the army out there. She told us to stay inside for now."
"If she has called lightning it would probably hurt us too," Boromir said. "That is why she wants us to stay inside. I suggest we listen to her."
"You know more about this than we do," Aragorn said. "You have spoken to her more."
"She has powers far beyond a normal man. If she is truly bringing down that lightning. Then…" Boromir took a deep breath. "She was telling the truth." He met Aragorn's eyes. "She carries the blood of dragons on her veins. Apparently in Skyrim than means she has a lot of power. I don't fully understand it. She has only told me about some of it, but… I believe that she might have been capable of changing things if we had trusted her more. She told me she can breathe a fiery breath equal to that of the strongest dragons in Skyrim."
Aragorn just stared at him at first. Then he swore. He had come to the same conclusion Boromir had. If she could do that, it was possible she could have melted the Ring and saved them all the worry. But she hadn't known.
Outside thunder clashed and lightning struck for a long while.
Then everything went quiet before the great horn of the Hornburg sounded out over the field. In its wake came the Rohirrim on their horses trampling the shocked orcs as they rode out to the dikes. The orcs fled before them towards a forest that seemed to have sprung up overnight. The orcs went into to that forest never to be seen again.
In the light of the sun appeared the white wizard and with him were the men of Erkenbrand. They rolled down like a wave over the remaining orcs and men. The men threw down their weapons in hopes that they would be spared, but the orcs ran.
Back at the Deep Gimli came walking out from the caverns with Éomer by his side. His keen eyes scanned the broken stone before him. Then they widened. He hurried forward, concern furrowing his brow.
"Don't worry master dwarf," Katla said. She looked up at him and took her helmet off. "I'm not injured just exhausted." She rose slowly. "You're heading out to join with the rest?" It sounds like we won."
"Yes," Gimli said. His head was bandaged but it didn't look too bad.
Katla turned to Éomer. "Where are your injured?" she asked. "I can aid them some."
Éomer gave her a surprised look before telling her where she needed to go. They were about to split up when a young man came running down towards them. "Lady Katla," the boy shouted.
"Hello young man," Katla said. "Are all of you okay?"
The boy nodded. "We're fine," he said. Then his eyes moved over Katla's companions. "My Lord Éomer," he said nervously while bowing.
"Calm young man," Éomer said. "I saw you and your friends out there. You did a good job." He looked up at Katla. "Their mothers will thank you for looking after them," he said.
"And their fathers will be proud," Katla said. "I'll see you in a bit. I want to make sure most of your injured survive this." She looked down at the boy next to her. "Come with me," she said. They headed in towards the caves while Gimli and Éomer headed out to join the King.
"What is your name young man?" Katla asked the boy next to her.
"Skard, Lady Katla," the boy said.
"Skard," Katla said. "It is a good name." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, Skard," she said. "Don't let it get to your head but know that you could become very skilled with the bow."
"Thank you lady Katla," Skald said. The smile that had appeared on his face fell as they entered the room where the injured were kept. There were cut off limbs and deep wounds. The smell of blood was everywhere. He followed Katla as she moved from soldier to soldier. She offered a drink from the glistening white phial she had kept by her belt during the battle. She only gave those with grievous injuries that could make it a drink. Afterwards, she sat down with Skald and explained why she had only given the potion to some and not to others.
"You can't save everyone," she said. "Some of those men will die no matter what I do. I don't want to waste this potion on them when I could give it to someone it would save instead. It is a tough decision to make, but someone has to make it."
Skald nodded slowly. He had thought war was kind of cool before. Seeing all the injured made it less cool. Katla dropped him back off with the other young men who had helped in the battle before she left to see the King and the others. She met Boromir halfway.
"We're going to Isengard," he told her. "They said we should get some rest before we go."
"Sounds like a good idea," Katla said. She looked back at the makeshift infirmary. She has seen someone that did not belong in Middle-earth in there. He was dead. Thankfully. "I just need to deal with something," she told Boromir.
"What?" Boromir asked.
"Miraak's body is here. I want to make sure he has no way of getting back," Katla said. She headed back to the cave with Boromir following closely behind her. His eyes widened as he saw the masked body she had talked about. He saw her pick up a greenish sword from beside the body. She was very gentle with the blade as she fastened it to her belt. He wondered what that was about.
Katla lifted the body up and walked out of the cave.
"What are you planning on doing?" Boromir asked.
"Burn him," Katla said. "I just need a place where nothing can catch on fire or be destroyed." She found an out of the way corner and placed the body down. She knew that masks like the one Miraak wore held power, but she didn't want it to end up possessing someone so she would burn that too. She was already exhausted, but this needed to be done. Fire spread from her as she spoke the words. The body burned to the bone quickly. The metal of the mask melted out on the stone. The magic of it faded.
Katla sighed. "Let's get some rest now," she said.
The two of them found a quiet spot and settled down for some well-needed rest. Neither knew what awaited them in Isengard.
